March 23, 2010

Becoming a vegetarian can make restaurant dining a real chore. But if you live in Los Angeles, you’ve got some great options that extend past the same old “salad and french fries” on the menu.

If you’re feeling adventurous, there’s a stretch of restaurants on Fairfax, just South of Olympic called “Ethiopian Row.” And right at the center of it all is my favorite restaurant, Rosalind’s. The owners and servers at Rosalind’s are all Ethiopian, and the down to earth atmosphere gives Rosalind’s a very authentic feel. You may want to wear jeans – you’ll be getting a lot of food for a great price (two people can eat like royalty for around $25-$30, including tip).

Like Indian food, Ethiopian food is spice-filled and exotic, although Ethiopian food tends to be heartier, leaning more towards saltiness. It’s also more fun to eat! Don’t expect silverware at the table – Ethiopian food is eaten with your hands. All dishes are served with a flat, pancake-like bread called injera. Injera tastes a lot like sourdough, only it’s soft and spongy. To eat the main dishes, you tear off a piece of injera, pinch up some of the food, and pop the whole thing in your mouth. The challenge is not getting the main dish all over your fingers, although it’s not the end of the world if you do. A few hours after eating at Rosalind’s, you can still smell the spices on your fingers. Don’t be surprised if it makes you hungry again! If you’re lucky, you took home leftovers.

I highly recommend the vegetarian plate, with 4-5 of Rosalind’s best vegetarian dishes. It’s big enough for two people, and chances are you won’t be able to finish it. But if your dinner companion is a die-hard carnivore, there are lots of meat-filled dishes on the menu, too.

Rosalind’s is at 1044 South Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019, and they’re open from 11am-11pm. In addition to their great menu, they also serve alcohol. See you in the neighborhood!

Also be sure to have a look at the daily specials. The wine list consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, merlot, Chardonnay and more.

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